travel

While uncertainty lingers over improvements and timetables at LAX, the county’s second-busiest airport is on the brink of big changes.

The Hollywood Burbank Airport is due to replace its two terminals with a larger new terminal on Oct. 13. The $1.3-billion project will include 14 gates — the same number the airport has now. But the new structure will be a single terminal that’s about 50% larger than the airport’s current two-terminal layout.

In moving to a 355,000-square-foot terminal, officials say, the airport can give passengers more room and better technology while meeting safety and accessibility standards.

A rendering shows how Hollywood Burbank Airport is designed to look when its new terminal opens in October.

(Hollywood Burbank Airport)

The airport, built in 1930 and run by the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority, is favored by many local travelers as a simpler, faster alternative to Los Angeles International Airport. The Burbank airport’s site in the San Fernando Valley, however, has often put its leaders at odds with residents of surrounding suburban neighborhoods.

As it stands, the aged Burbank facility doesn’t meet current state seismic standards or Federal Aviation Administration design standards — which has prompted repeated safety warnings. Its nine resident airlines fly to about 30 nonstop destinations. The airport reported about 6.2 million arriving and departing passengers in 2025.

Airport officials say the new design increases the distance between the terminal and the nearest runway, currently as little as 257 feet, soon to be about 880 feet, bringing the airport into compliance with FAA standards.

Meanwhile at LAX, which reported 73.7 million passengers in 2025, the opening of a long-awaited SkyLink automated people mover (an electric train linking terminals to rail service and rental cars) has been delayed by technical and legal issues. In a June 15 report, the SkyLink contractor estimated that its public opening would need to wait until Oct. 6 or later. Asked for a revised timetable, an LAX spokesperson gave no dates, saying only that the airport is focused on “exhaustive testing of all tracks, signaling systems, and vehicles” to ensure safety and dependability.

A rendering shows how Hollywood Burbank Airport is expected to look after a new terminal opens in October.

(Hollywood Burbank Airport)

In Burbank, voters approved the airport terminal replacement project in 2016. Construction began in 2024. At the entrance, travelers will encounter a pair of 16-foot-tall sculptures, “The Two Electras,” by Cliff Garten; inside, a ceiling grid artwork by Glenn Kaino.

The new space is just north of the existing terminal, which is to be demolished. The new entrance will be at Winona Avenue and Hollywood Way. Airport officials say the change will not affect the number of flights or the airport’s operating hours, which are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

In the new terminal, airport officials say, the walk from the entrance to the farthest gate will be 1,285 feet, down from 1,600 feet now, with wider corridors and sidewalks and access to power plugs for devices from every seat. Baggage claim carousels will move from outdoors to indoors.

A July 7 photo shows work in progress at Hollywood Burbank Airport, where a new terminal is scheduled to open in October.

(Hollywood Burbank Airport)

The airport project, known as Elevate BUR, has been overseen by the project management company Jacobs. The Design-Build portion of the project is led by Holder, Pankow, TEC, Joint Venture. Corgan provided architectural services in association with CannonDesign.

As it does now, the airport will supply shuttle bus service between the new terminal and Burbank Airport-South Train Station (which connects with Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner) and the Burbank Airport-North Station at San Fernando Road and Hollywood Way.

Another thing that won’t change: Passengers will continue to walk across the tarmac from terminal to stairs to planes, rather than using the enclosed jetways common in other airports, especially larger ones. It’s something travelers say they appreciate about the airport.

“The second I step onto the tarmac at Burbank, I start acting like I’m boarding a private jet,” wrote one Threads user. “And you’ll never convince me otherwise.”

Some other changes travelers can expect in Burbank:

• The new terminal’s 14 food service units are tentatively set to include a Flavor Town, Spring Chicken, Farm Table Bistro, Jones Coffee, Perry’s Joint, Poquito Mas, West Coast Smash Burger, Diane’s Pizzeria, Massis Kebab, Starbucks, Border Grill, Jet Tila’s Asian Table, Santa Canela bakery and a bar with picture-window views of the runways and Verdugo mountains.

The Grand Hall of the soon-to-open terminal at Hollywood Burbank Airport awaits finishing touches on July 7.

(Hollywood Burbank Airport)

• A new parking structure next to the new terminal will hold 2,007 parking spots, including 400 valet spots. (The airport’s total number of parking spaces will remain the same at 6,637.)
• The distance between the new terminal and the airport’s existing rental car facility and bus stop (Regional Intermodal Transit Center) will be slightly less than a mile by shuttle bus.

America’s semiquincentennial came and went, and the Disneyland Resort marked the occasion with a transformation of its now-classic Soarin’ ride. Gone, for now, is Soarin’ Over California and Soarin’ Around the World. In their place is Soarin’ Across America, a lightly patriotic-themed journey from coast to coast.

There are flyovers of nationalistic symbols such as the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore National Monument and the Washington Monument, but the majority of its dozen locations are national parks, making Soarin’ Across America a love letter to America’s natural and diverse beauty. And it felt like a four-and-a-half-minute celebration.

Soarin’ Across America has the strongest scene of any of the three attraction films, which envelop riders as they ascend in the sky on a hang glider simulator. That’s its opening, a shot of a rocket launch at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. We start level with the spacecraft, and then follow its journey into the clouds. Being this close to a liftoff, and feeling the sensation of rising with it, creates an inspiring, rousing moment. As in any Soarin’ film, we are promised the great outdoors, but here we get magnificent ingenuity.

Is it the best Soarin’? I’d still rank Soarin’ Over California as No. 1, as it has a sort of goofball charm, such as tumbling skiers or a golf ball flying toward the audience. But Soarin’ Across America is a worthy successor. It takes a more patient approach, as the ride now seems to linger longer over certain locales, allowing us to take in the majesty of the Grand Canyon West or vibrancy of the Louisiana bayou without distraction. I appreciated the tonal shift, which makes it stand on its own and doesn’t try to force itself to capture the original’s whimsy.

A coastal scene from Soarin’ Across America.

(Disney Parks)

I also enjoyed the new smells. When hovering near the Hawaii coast, for instance, the tropical fragrances that wafted over guests seemed to reflect the gummy fruitiness of a mai tai. (No, that wasn’t just me longing for an afternoon break at Trader Sam’s.)

I went in with a bit of skepticism, and I’m relieved to say my fears weren’t realized. Well, fully realized. This is a divisive time in American history, and cultural works are increasingly viewed through a political lens. When announcing the attraction, Disney did so with symbolism of the American flag, a bald eagle and the Statue of Liberty, art that was admittedly bright and welcoming, but also could be read as giving it an uncomfortable, chauvinistic sheen.

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Not everyone in 2026 may be excited with a flight simulator that serves as a cheerleader for America. And I still question the inclusion of Mount Rushmore, which has a long, controversial history, and has been a fascination of President Trump’s. But aside from that scene, and some odd red, white and blue sparkler-like fireworks visible in the New York Harbor, which curiously distract from a view of the Statue of Liberty, Soarin’ Across America doesn’t lay on the jingoism. At least until the final moments, when we see an American flag in the sky above Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle.

I’ll take it. The vibe throughout is one of restraint. When we glide near a Maine lighthouse, the film seems to pause, allowing the rocky coast and long-standing structure to be the stars. A dip across the American plains takes us above a herd of bison, but by and large movement is kept to a minimum (here the scent is of grassy freshness, which I’m betting is not what a bison smells like). A train in the Ozarks, for instance, comes to us rather than the film rushing to trace its path.

Filmed primarily with helicopters and drone shots, Soarin’ Across America utilizes CGI, courtesy of Industrial Light & Magic, less than Soarin’ Around the World, and primarily on scene transitions when we appear to fly next to a bird. This is an attraction that leans more National Geographic, that is it is unobtrusive and unstaged, than past iterations of Soarin’. While some may miss more active visuals, I appreciate that each Soarin’ film takes a different approach. Long term, it will allow Soarin’ Across America to serve as a snapshot in time, of an America at a certain point in history.

Soarin’ Across America shows aerial vistas across the United States, and it’s arriving at a divisive moment in our nation’s political history.

(Disney Parks)

And that’s already true. For when the film takes us down in front of the Washington Monument, we can off in the distance ever-so-slightly glance at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, caught before its current Trump adminstration remodeling. Depending on your point of view, it can be unintentionally uncomfortable or amusing to see a locale before it became a political lightning rod. But that’s sort of the appeal of the Soarin’ films. They’re glimpses of not just a moment in time, but of a constantly changing world.

In that sense, there’s something relatively quaint about Soarin’, especially for our fast-paced, thrill-focused world. Soarin’ was groundbreaking when it debuted in 2001, but today we have venues like Las Vegas’ Sphere and Inglewood’s Cosm, whose spherical screens are higher definition and can even create the illusion of movement. Soarin’ Across America charms — all four of my rides last week ended in audience applause — by simply being a calming, relaxed journey that stokes our sense of adventure.

This week in SoCal theme parks

Disneyland Park has now welcomed more than 1 billion guests.

(Christian Thompson / Disneyland Resort)

• Disneyland: More than 1 billion served. The Disneyland Resort over the weekend welcomed its 1 billionth guest. The distinction went to 8-year-old Andres Robles, who with his family was treated to a VIP tour of the park. Disneyland has updated its population sign atop the Disneyland Railroad’s Main Street Station. To help put into context how unfathomably large 1 billion is, it’s worth noting that it took Disneyland, which in recent years has been drawing around 17 million attendees, nearly 71 years to reach that number.
• The Cenobites are coming to Universal Studios Hollywood. The latest addition to this year’s Halloween Horror Nights has been revealed, and it’s a haunted house based on the “Hellraiser” franchise. Pinhead actor Doug Bradley will reprise his role for the walkthrough attraction by voicing the character’s representation in the house. Halloween Horror Nights is set to launch Sept. 3.
• Don’t miss this look into Disney history. PBS SoCal will on Friday, July 17, show the documentary, “Bob Gurr: Living by Design.” It’s a revealing look into the life of a key early Disneyland designer, as Gurr created the look and feel of the Haunted Mansion “Doombuggies,” the original Autopia cars, the bobsleds of the Matterhorn and, of course, the first Disneyland Monorail. Before you watch, get to know the colorful, outspoken Disney legend.
• A Disneyland deal for Anaheim residents. Good news for those who live near the Disneyland Resort. For a limited time from July 20 through Aug. 8, Anaheim residents will have access to a locals-only deal. Adult one-day tickets will start at $71, while child tickets will be $50. Park-hoppers for adults will sell for $104 while child tickets will remain $50. It’s a significant savings and a great way to see the start of the park’s Halloween season. The tickets go on sale July 16.

The best thing I ate at the parks

The al pastor pork chop at Lamplight Lounge.

(Todd Martens / Los Angeles Times)

One of Disneyland’s best dishes is currently available at Disney California Adventure’s Lamplight Lounge, its Pixar-decorated pub-like outpost. It’s a sliced al pastor pork chop served with cheese polenta, pineapple relish and a spicy red chili butter sauce ($32). The pork is soft, the polenta creamy and it carries just enough heat to give it a bit of an edge. While filling, it’s surprisingly not too heavy, and Lamplight is always a lively spot to take a break from the parks. I only wish the place had a non-hazy IPA.

Your questions answered

Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle on a crowded 2019 day.

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Hi Todd, we went to the park [Sunday] and it was empty: walk on to Cars, walk on to Indy. Thirty minutes for Guardians. Everything else was down to about 5 [minutes] besides Tiki Room because it’s a 15 min show. Are they struggling this summer? I haven’t seen a day like that at Disney since I was a kid.
— Jake from Riverside

Disneyland has been unseasonably comfortable this summer (read: less people). And the Fourth of July holiday week was kind of a breeze, with low wait times at most attractions at both parks.

But I wouldn’t says struggling, as I have seen busy days in recent weeks and Sunday was particularly unique. Mexico and England were playing a much-buzzed-about World Cup match, which no doubt kept crowds at bay. But it’s true that Disneyland this summer has, on a whole, been more pleasant, crowd-wise, than in year’s past.

Ultimately, I attribute the potentially lighter attendance to a combination of factors. One, the park has likely hit the peak price it can currently offer guests (fingers crossed this is true, as I don’t think most Disneyland fans can absorb another yearly price hike right now). Two, the aforementioned World Cup is drawing away potential attendees. And three, everything is more expensive today, forcing families to choose between, say, an afternoon at Dodger Stadium or a day at Disneyland. It’s increasingly untenable to do both.

And people are hungry for different, approachable ticket options. Last week, for instance, Disneyland unveiled a new evening ticket deal for all guests. The $59 offer allows attendees to enter either Disney California Adventure at 5 p.m. or Disneyland at 7 p.m. Available Sundays to Wednesdays through Aug. 5, all dates sold out in six days, unless Disneyland allots more tickets for the deal.

Tell us your stories. Ask us your questions.

Have a theme park tale to share? Whether it was a good day or less-than-perfect day, I would love to hear about it. Have a question? A tip? A fun photo from the parks to share? Email me at todd.martens@latimes.com. I may feature your note in an upcoming newsletter.

Ride on,

Todd Martens

P.S.

Universal Studios Hollywood first began exploring a high-speed coaster more than a decade ago.

(Todd Martens / Los Angeles Times)

Universal Studios Hollywood’s new Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift is set to open soon, and while many are excited, I’m curious to hear from those who live near the theme park. Universal has emphasized how it has instituted a number of noise-mitigating factors, from placing pea gravel in the tracks to building sound walls and creating shields designed to capture rider screams.

Theme park rides, however, can still be loud. If you’re in one of the neighborhoods surrounding the park, drop a line at todd.martens@latimes.com and let me know if Universal’s efforts have been enough, or if the coaster is a disruptive presence.

IF you’re on the hunt for a family break that won’t break the bank this summer – we’ve got some great ones.

Sun Travel has found 10 all-inclusive breaks from Spain to Turkey, Morocco and the Balearics all under £350pp.

El Pueblo Tamlelt, Morocco

In Morocco, the El Pueblo Tamlelt in Agadir has plenty to offer including its two huge swimming pools.

It’s also just a short-walk away from the beach and has an 11 acre garden to explore.

All rooms have a balcony or terrace with garden or pool view and are in traditional Moroccan style.

A family of four can stay for five-nights between August 5-10 with On the Beach from £313pp – this is an all-inclusive stay including flights from Edinburgh to Agadir.

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Dynastic Rooms Apartments, Costa Blanca, Spain

Spain is always a great choice for a family holiday as flights are short and Alicante is just two hours and 45 minutes away from the UK.

The Dynastic Rooms Apartment in Costa Blanca is in the middle of lively Benidorm, so there’s plenty of restaurants and entertainment within walking distance from the hotel.

All-inclusive guests get access to the spa facilities included in their stay too.

A family of four can stay for five-nights between August 10-15 with On the Beach from £325pp – this is an all-inclusive stay including flights from Leeds Bradford to Alicante.

Santa Susanna, Costa Brava, Spain

If you aren’t feeling Benidorm, how about Barcelona?

The Santa Susanna is very family-friendly with a kids’ splash park and games area as well as a swimming pool and entertainment.

Adults can laze about on sunloungers and check out the poolside bar too.

A family of four can stay for five-nights between August 17-22 with On the Beach from £303pp – this is an all-inclusive stay including flights from Bristol Airport to Barcelona.

Blue Sea Costa Teguise Gardens, Lanzarote

The three-star Blue Sea Costa Teguise Gardens in Lanzarote is close to three local beaches.

It has a swimming pool, buffet-style restaurant serving up Spanish dishes and a snack bar too.

A family of four can stay for five-nights between August 1-6 with loveholidays from £319pp.

This is an all-inclusive stay with the outbound flight from Leeds Bradford to Lanzarote – the inbound flight returns to Liverpool Airport.

Magic Cristal Park Hotel, Costa Blanca, Spain

This hotel is in central Benidorm and is a mere five-minute walk from the city centre, and 15-minutes from the closest beach.

The hotel has a Roman-inspired design with two buffet restaurants, and on the top floor, guests can use the outdoor heated Jacuzzi.

It has a swimming pool as well as Game Experience area with F1 simulators and dance zones.

A family of four can stay for five-nights between August 1-6 with loveholidays from £339pp – this is an all-inclusive stay including return flights from East Midlands Airport to Alicante.

Ilyssion Hotel, Rhodes, Greece

This three-star hotel is a great find for under £350pp as it’s right on the beach front and has four swimming pools.

You can munch on Greek food at its buffet restaurant and check out the poolside snack bar for light bites, soft drinks and cocktails.

There’s plenty of sports to try out from beach volleyball to tennis and there’s an open-air playground for children.

A family of four can stay for five-nights between August 8-13 with On the Beach from £348ppp – this is an all-inclusive stay including return flights from Birmingham Airport to Rhodes.

Magic Villa Benidorm Hotel, Benidorm, Spain

This hotel near the beach in Benidorm may be no frills, but it has everything you need at your fingertips.

It has basic rooms with a large outdoor pool with a slide that’s surrounded by sunloungers and there’s entertainment throughout the day too.

A family of four can stay for five-nights between July 26-31 with loveholidays from £339ppp.

This is an all-inclusive stay including an outbound flight from Liverpool Airport to Alicante, and an inbound flight to Manchester Airport.

Arsi Hotel, Antalya, Turkey

In Antalya the Arsi Hotel has an outdoor swimming pool has a dedicated children’s area and waterslides.

There’s also an on-site spa with a sauna, steam bath and massage treatments on offer.

And there’s a sandy beach just a short walk away.

A family of four can stay for five-nights between July 28 – August 2 with loveholidays from £339pp – this is an all-inclusive stay including return flights from Bristol Airport to Antalya.

BLUESEA Los Fiscos, Lanzarote

Lanzarote is known for being a gloriously sunny, and sometimes windy, island with unique black sand beaches.

If you want a break over the summer holidays, head to BLUESEA Los Fiscos in Puerto del Carmen.

It has apartment-style rooms that have a balcony or terrace, a swimming pool, and the Playa Grande beach is less than a mile away.

A family of four can stay for five-nights between August 20-25 with On the Beach from £318pp – this is an all-inclusive stay including flights from Newcastle Airport to Arrecife.

Galaxy Beach Hotel, Antalya, Turkey

The four-star Galaxy Beach Hotel sits in the popular resort of Mahmutlar with private beach nearby.

It also has an outdoor swimming pool, kids’ club and playground on-site.

Mahmutlar Beach is a short walk away with lots of bars, restaurants and shops to see too.

A family of four can stay for five-nights between 28 July – 2 August with loveholidays from £329pp – this is an all-inclusive stay including return flights from Bristol Airport to Antalya.

*Prices correct at the time of publication.

THERE is a huge theme park that is often dubbed the Disneyland of Turkey – and it has opened a whole new land.

The Land of Legends in Turkey has opened Waterfly, a new water-themed world with 14 slides inside.

The main attraction is the Dragonfly Tower, a 52m tower that is one of the tallest of its kind.

The tower itself has an number of slides, such as the Dragonfly Jet with a helix twist slide.

Other slides include Golden Wing Spiral, Emerald Blue and Sunset Drop, all a range of intensities depending on your bravery.

There is also the family-friendly Butterfly Beach, for younger kids wanting water play without the thrills.

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Outside of this there are two waterparks – Aqua Land and Tropic Lagoon – which have a combined 70 waterslides.

Thrill seekers can head to Aqua Land as this is where the faster rides are.

For a more relaxed visit, Tropic Lagoon is better for younger guests with pools and gentle splash parks, as well as heated pools and wave pools.

Although save time for Turtle Coaster, one of the biggest waterslides in the world which has 14mph speeds and up to four passengers at a time.

The waterparks are open from April to October, during the busier summer season.

But if you want to stay onsite, it is super cheap too.

Seven-night stays at the Land of Legends theme park start from £809pp on an all-inclusive basis, and it includes your return London flights.

Sadly, this is just out of the waterpark season in November, so if you want to be able to access the waterparks, prices jump to £1,339pp.

Visitors all say the same with one writing on TripAdvisor it was their “best ever family holiday” another added that it was the theme and waterpark that made it “paradise for kids”.

Also at the resort is Nickelodeon Land, Adventure Land and themed hotel rooms.

The Foreign Office’s latest France travel advice has been updated with more information for Brits as wildfires have been raging across Europe and seen thousands evacuated from high risk areas

Wildfires have been raging across parts of Europe this week, affecting destinations including Spain, France, Portugal and Greece. Thousands have been evacuated as a result, with locals and tourists also being urged to ensure their phones can receive emergency alerts.

In southern France, over 10,000 people were evacuated from small towns and villages in the French Pyrenees, near the border with Spain, reports the BBC.

Meanwhile, spectators heading to watch the third stage of the Tour de France were urged to stay away on Monday, to make access easier for emergency vehicles in the area.

Following the wildfires, on Tuesday (July 7), the Foreign Office updated its France travel advice to warn Brits of the ‘high risk’ of fires in France over the coming months, and point to the existing advice it has on what to do if you’re staying in or near a high-risk area.

The updated advice warns: “There is a high risk of wildfires during the summer season from April to October. For advice, visit the wildfires section on the Safety and security page.”

The Foreign Office already had existing advice about the risk of wildfires in France, which always sits within its guidance. The latest update just reminds Brits that the advice exists, and where to find it.

At the time of writing, the guidance on wildfires in France reads: “Wildfires can start anywhere in France during the summer months, particularly along the Mediterranean coast and in Corsica.

“The French weather service has launched a fire alert map to help travellers stay up to date.

“Fires have become more frequent because of drought and high temperatures. French authorities may evacuate areas and close roads for safety reasons. Causing a wildfire is illegal in France, even if it is started by accident. You could get a fine or a prison sentence.

“If you’re staying in, or near, a high-risk area see advice from the French government (in English) for information about:

• what to do if a wildfire breaks out
• how to prevent wildfire outbreaks
• protecting your home from wildfires (including mandatory bush clearance)

“If you are caught in, or witness, a wildfire, call the emergency services on 18 (fire) or 112 (emergency services).”

A TRAIN strike is set to cause major rail disruptions this week.

Passengers can expect delays, cancellations and reduced services over Friday and Saturday.

London Northwestern Railway services will be scaled back from July 9 to 11, with staff walkouts set to impact the West Coast Main Line routes.

Numerous employees striking will result in fewer trains running from the likes of London Euston, Birmingham, Crewe and Liverpool.

Those intending to travel on strike days are being urged to check their route first, as some routes will be without trains entirely.

Some routes will run one train per hour over Friday and Saturday.

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These routes include London Euston to Crewe, Birmingham to Liverpool plus Birmingham to Euston via Northampton.

The Milton Keynes to Euston and Watford Junction to St Albans Abbey routes are also expected to operate on a one train an hour basis.

Services will stop earlier than usual, with the last train from London to Crewe going at 3:46pm on Friday.

The last LNR service of the day from Euston will be the London to Milton Keynes Central train, departing at 5.09pm.

No LNR trains will run after 7pm on Friday, with no early morning services scheduled for Saturday and trains starting later than usual at 7am.

The Transport Salaried Staffs Association Union has called the strike amid disagreements over rest day pay.

London Northwestern Railway’s customer experience director, Jonny Wiseman, said: “We are disappointed TSSA has called further unnecessary strike action which is set to cause significant disruption for our customers. We are working hard to reach a resolution to this dispute and urge TSSA to continue talks.

“We are sorry for the inconvenience this will cause our customers and we are doing everything we can to minimise the impact as much as possible. If the strike action does go ahead we will be running a significantly reduced timetable on both dates.”

TEMPERATURES are soaring above 30C again this week – so where better to enjoy it than outside sipping on a cool pint?

Sun Travel has found some of the biggest beer gardens in the UK from secret spots in the city to canal-side watering holes.

The Watering Hole, Cornwall

The Watering Hole in Cornwall is a unique spot as its beer garden is right on the beach.

Big 7 Enjoy Travel even named it as being one of the 30 best beer gardens in the UK last year.

They wrote: “The tables are located right on the sands of the beach, making it the perfect beachside beer garden experience, ideal for the summer months.”

There’s live music as well as food and drink here all year round.

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The Mile Castle, Newcastle

Dubbed a ‘super Spoons’, the Mile Castle in Newcastle became home to the first Wetherspoons hotel back in 2024 and had a major facelift.

Outside is a 200-cover beer garden set across two floors – and you can enjoy a pint of Ruddles Best from £1.79.

Old Neptune, Whitstable

While not a garden per-say, the Old Neptune has the it’s own beach as a garden.

It certainly has the best views – with the sea just a few steps away and many punters constantly praise it for being one of the best spots in the area.

The Wharf, Manchester

The Wharf in Manchester is a canal-side country pub in the heart of the city.

Punters can enjoy a beer by the Bridgewater Canal and in the summertime there are activities like barbecues, live performances and child-friendly activities.

The Perch, Oxford

The Perch is one of Oxford‘s oldest pubs and has been dubbed a “hidden gem” by visitors.

The sweeping beer garden sits behind the 17th century inn and on hot days there is shade provided by the tall weeping willow trees.

The Garden at Kentish Town, London

The Garden at Kentish Town is a massive 12,000-square-foot outdoor venue with two bars with seating for up to 950 guests.

When it’s time to eat, there are street food vendors too as well as events like comedy nights, bottomless brunches and sports screenings.

The Rising Sun, Somerset

The Rising Sun in Pensford, Somerset, might look like an ordinary pub from the outside – but it has a very impressive beer garden behind it.

It was even named the second-best beer garden in England in 2023.

The sunny spot underneath the enormous Pensford Viaduct by the River Chew with views across the countryside.

One visitor wrote on Tripadvisor: “Every so often you stumble on a hidden gem and that is what we found at the Rising Sun.”

WEST Brewery Glasgow, Scotland

At WEST Brewery Glasgow, one of the biggest beer gardens in the city, visitors can enjoy a mix of Scottish and German delights with local lager and German food.

There’s no booking necessary and the Biergarten Menu that offers currywursts, hot dogs and burgers is available until 12pm.

Brewhouse & Kitchen in Pontcanna, Cardiff

This pub is popular thanks to its location next to Sophia Gardens cricket grounds – but it has a pretty beer garden too.

Outside the Brewhouse & Kitchen is room for 325 visitors – with enough sitting room for 200 with covered and shady area for when it’s particularly hot.

One visitor said it has “one of the best gardens in Cardiff.”

The craft beer is brewed on-site with a mixture of pale ales to stouts.

Hackney Bridge, London

Although technically not a beer ‘garden’ we couldn’t leave Hackney Bridge off the list as it’s outdoor space amounts to 3,500 square feet.

It’s next to the canal with lots of seating in the lower tier gardens – not to mention space on the terraces.

Inside are plenty of bars like The Hangar, Block C and Traveling Barn to pick up drinks and enjoy them in the sunshine.

A travel blogger has shared her top tips for what she described as the “most underrated country in the world”, where you can get flights and five nights in a hotel for less than £500

A holidaymaker is encouraging travel fans to explore what she describes as the “most underrated country in the world” – offering plenty to do for less than £500 per person. Hannah, a young globe-trotter who frequently posts travel advice on her TikTok account @hannahshols, has high praise for a number of destinations – but reserves particular affection for Malta.

Situated beneath Italy and north of Tunisia, this jewel of a spot takes just three hours to fly to from the UK. During a visit to the small island nation with friends, Hannah discovered that they each paid slightly more than £400 for flights, a five-night hotel stay with rooftop pool access and breakfast included, plus baggage and transfers.

Her TikTok video documenting the trip racked up more than one million likes. She gushed: “Malta is by far the most underrated country I think I’ve ever visited.”

She added: “Even though Malta is the 10th smallest country in the world, it is definitely giving big country energy.” The clip showcases the destination’s stunning sea vistas, plentiful shops and eateries, historic sites, and beautiful gardens, reports the Mirror.

Looking back on her trip in 2024, Hannah revealed why the experience stood out. “One thing I loved about Malta was that it was like nowhere I’d ever been before,” she said. “It’s got such strong Arabic and Roman influences.”

She concluded with sincere praise: “It was just absolutely beautiful and everyone we met just seemed so proud to be Maltese.”

The travel influencer suggests a visit to the capital city of Valletta for anyone heading to Malta. Hannah and her group mainly explored the city by foot or took advantage of the bus network, which she described as “super convenient and cheap”.

She recommended: “Just spend a day in Valletta, roaming around, street dining, going to the boutique shops, wandering in and out of the gardens, seeing the cannons being fired at the saluting battery, and checking out the harbour front.”

Hannah also gave her seal of approval to the Gozo, Comino and Blue Lagoon cruise. This full-day boat trip sets off from Sliema and provides the opportunity to experience both islands in one day, alongside numerous landmarks.

According to Hannah, the price for her and her companions was “around £29 each”. Her video garnered more than 1,000 comments, with many sharing her views about the country. A local resident wrote: “I am from Malta and I am so happy that you loved our little island.”

Another user declared: “Malta is stunning, I would go back in a heartbeat,” while someone else commented: “Genuinely one of my favourite European destinations ever – never gets boring.”

“Omg I live in Malta, it’s so underrated,” another person posted.

How to get to Malta

A number of airlines, including Air Malta, Easyjet, British Airways, Ryanair, and Jet2, run direct flights from the UK to Malta. The busiest route is from London Heathrow to Malta International Airport, which sits in the island’s capital city of Valletta.

Flights are also available from Bournemouth, Liverpool, Norwich, Belfast, Manchester, Bristol, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham, and Glasgow.

EUROSTAR is warning of delays across Europe due to an incident on a track, with some services already cancelled.

Trains heading to and from Europe are experiencing delays and cancellations “due to emergency services attending an incident near the tracks in Lille Europe”.

Cancelled trains include:

• 3:31pm service from London to Paris
• 5:56pm service from Brussels to London, via Lille
• 6:04pm service from London to Amsterdam, stopping at Brussels, Rotterdam and Lille
• 6:40pm service from Amsterdam to London, stopping at Brussels, Rotterdam and Lille
• 7:01pm service from London to Paris
• 8:02pm service from Paris to London

There are also a number of delays to services including the 2:42pm, 3:12pm, 4:12pm, 4:40pm and 5:12pm services from Paris Gare du Nord to London St Pancras.

A service from London St Pancras to Paris at 2:31pm was also delayed.

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Services from Brussels to London have also been impacted including the 2:52pm and 3:52pm services.

The Eurostar website currently states: “We expect our trains between London and Lille/Brussels/Rotterdam/Amsterdam to be subject to severe delays on 07/07/2026 due to emergency services attending an incident near the tracks in Lille Europe.”

The operator is advising that if passengers would prefer to rearrange their plans, then you can change your ticket for free.

It comes as services still face disruptions following from an incident in the Netherlands last week where there was a major fire at Rotterdam Centraal.

At the time, Eurostar commented: “We’re very sorry that, due to a fire near station Rotterdam Centraal, train services across the Netherlands are currently severely disrupted and extremely limited.

“As a result, our trains are subject to significant delays and cancellations, and we’re unfortunately unable to offer alternative travel options.

“This situation will continue until 3rd July 2026. We recommend that you do not attempt to travel to or from the Netherlands until 3rd July. Instead, please cancel your journey or postpone it to a later date.”

Sun Travel has contacted Eurostar for further comment.

A SCULPTURE of David Brent has been unveiled – at a Premier Inn in Slough.

The clay creation of Ricky Gervais’ most iconic character marks 25 years since The Office UK first hit British TV screens.

Commissioned by Premier Inn, it is positioned inside its Slough Trading Estate hotel – the exact location of the original exterior shots used for ‘Wernham Hogg’ in the series’ opening credits.

The beloved TV show followed the fortunes of character David Brent from his life as a regional manager in a paper office to life on the road as a travelling salesman.

It was unveiled by Brent impersonator Tim Oliver, who re-enacted the pose as well as some of the character’s signature dance moves, which helped make Berkshire-born writer Gervais internationally famous.

The bust – which took 120 hours to put together and weighs seven kilograms – will be a permanent installation at the site.

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A spokesperson for the hotel chain said: “The exact site of the world’s most famous office, Wernham Hogg, is now one of our hotels and so we’re thrilled to unveil this brilliant tribute to mark its place in British comedy history.

“Ricky’s iconic character truly put Slough on the map, and it’s only fitting to honour him with this memorable statue, which we hope will be particularly popular with some of the millions of business travellers who stay with us each year.

“Whilst the building itself is totally transformed – our guests are more likely to be interested in pillows than photocopiers – eagle-eyed fans will certainly spot the similarity in the footprint of the site.”

The hotel company also commissioned research of 2,000 adults which found David Brent’s unforgettable Comic Relief dance topped a list of favourite moments from the show.

It picked up 26 per cent of the vote from Office fans and was followed by Dawn returning to the Christmas party to kiss Tim in the denouement of the festive special (15 per cent).

More than one in 10 (13 per cent), meanwhile, selected Tim’s prank from the very first episode, encasing desk mate and nemesis Gareth’s stapler in lurid yellow jelly.

It emerged 72 per cent of respondents who watched the show consider it a nostalgic snapshot of what working life was like in the early 2000s.

Although 68 per cent are glad they don’t work in an environment like Wernham Hogg – the fictional working home of David Brent.

Elements of working life people believe have changed for the better include flexible working hours (39 per cent), improved office technology (28 per cent) and the business attire (27 per cent).

A fifth (20 per cent) cited an increased focus on wellbeing, and 16 per cent a greater diversity in teams, according to the OnePoll.com figures.

The spokesperson for Premier Inn said: “From tech to business attire, office life has changed drastically in the 25 years since the show aired but what hasn’t changed is the need for business travellers to know what they’re getting with a great night’s sleep in a comfortable room ready to face the day – no matter how embarrassing their boss is.”

The study also saw Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, creators of The Office, named the best comedy writing duo of the 21st century (16 per cent).

They narrowly pipped James Corden and Ruth Jones, writers of Gavin & Stacey (15 per cent), and Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders (12 per cent).

Daniel Green, a TV chef who appears on the BBC’s Saturday Kitchen and QVC, boarded a British Airways flight from Miami Airport to London Heathrow, when a flight attendant delivered an unwelcome message

A dad was left ‘extremely embarrassed’ after he was told to move from his seat and his wife was threatened with being kicked off the plane.

Daniel Green climbed aboard the British Airways flight from London Heathrow to Miami on June 30, looking forward to the nine-hour flight.

Two days before, the TV chef had splashed out, paying £1,900 to upgrade himself, his wife and his daughter from Club World to First Class.

“We upgraded specifically to ensure a comfortable journey for our 13-year-old daughter, who suffers from significant anxiety and travel sickness,” explained Daniel, who regularly appears on the BBC’s Saturday Kitchen and QVC.

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However, after boarding, the family was told that one of the seats in the row in front of them had a recliner fault.

“We were then told that passengers from Row 3 would be moved into our Row 4 First Class seats, resulting in us being displaced from the seats we had paid for,” the dad continued.

“My wife was approached by ground staff while I was briefly away from my seat and told that she must move or accept deplaning. As a result, we were effectively forced into a situation where my wife remained in First Class with our daughter, while I was moved alone into Club World after take-off.

“She was told she could either move to Club or deplane, which felt like a very aggressive way for the situation to be handled, especially as my wife was not being confrontational in any way. She had not said or refused that she would move, so I am totally surprised that he said deplaning was an option.”

According to Daniel, they were not offered alternative seats in First Class or given any warning, despite the plane having been ready on the tarmac for several hours before take-off.

It wasn’t being moved that left Daniel embarrassed, however.

“During the process, a cabin service director also referred to us as being “on an upgrade” in front of other passengers, which was incorrect and deeply embarrassing. We had paid in full for First Class seats only two days earlier,” he said.

“The situation left our family separated, and our daughter experienced significant distress during the flight. What was intended to be a special family journey was instead one of discomfort, embarrassment, and disappointment.

“I believe the handling of this situation raises broader questions about customer service standards, particularly when passengers pay for premium cabins and travel with children.”

He added: “The main issue for us was the way the ground handling of the situation was managed, which felt dismissive and unnecessarily harsh. My wife ultimately remained in her seat, but the experience was very distressing at the time.”

A spokesperson for BA said: “We are sorry for our customer’s experience, and we are in contact to make things right.”

After the Mirror contacted BA, Daniel received an apology and was offered a refund on the upgrade as well as the £220 extra he spent to choose specific seats.

THE rollout of a new visa system for Brits entering Europe is set to be delayed AGAIN.

First announced in 2016, the new ETIAS will be required by all UK travellers visiting countries in the EU.

Similar to the ESTA required to visit America, it will be a ‘visa-waiver’ that lasts three years, or until the passport expires.

However, the introduction of the scheme has faced years of delays – and is likely to be be delayed even further.

This is due to the chaos of the EES system that launched in April, requiring lengthy biometric checks from all non-EU visitors.

Not only has this led to queues as long as five hours, but hundreds of passengers have even missed their flights.

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And this is before the busy peak period, with fears of a “complete collapse of the system” during the summer holidays, according to the head of Europe’s airport trade body.

In response, the launch of ETIAS is now expected to be pushed back to 2027.

According to the FT, EU-Lisa – in charge of the ETIAS rollout – has expressed concerns over it being ready to go this year.

One person said they needed to “clean up EES” before they thought of launching it.

Initially thought to launch back in June, a confirmed launch date is expected to be discussed again in September.

When it does start, all travellers aged 18-70 will have to pay €20 (£18) for the ETIAS.

Anyone outside of this age bracket still need to apply, but will get it free of charge.

Applications will only take a couple of minutes to complete, but it may take up to 30 days to be approved.

Hundreds of easyJet and Ryanair flights have been hit by delays today following an issue at the National Air Traffic Services, with 30,000 Ryanair passengers said to be impacted

Hundreds of UK flights have been delayed due to an issue at the UK’s air traffic control (ATC).

There was widespread disruption across UK airspace this morning after an issue at the Met Office meant the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) didn’t receive weather information.

As a result, Ryanair saw 155 of its flights delayed, impacting almost 30,000 passengers, with delays of up to three hours. EasyJet was hit harder, with 253 flights delayed – 13% of its total number of planned departures today.

“A Met Office technical issue overnight meant that we were not receiving vital weather information into our NATS systems this morning. Accurate weather information is vital for air traffic controllers and pilots in managing flights safely,” a spokesperson for NATs said

“As a result, some air traffic restrictions were put in place early this morning and these have now been removed. We continue to work with the Met Office, who are working to fully resolve the problem.”

The Met Office has been contacted for comment.

“Nearly three years after NATS catastrophic 2023 system meltdown, UK passengers are once again being delayed because NATS’ systems have failed,” Ryanair Chief Operations Officer, Neal McMahon, said.

“Today’s outage delayed 155 Ryanair flights and disrupted almost 30,000 Ryanair passengers. Families travelling on holiday, people travelling for work and thousands of visitors to the UK have once again paid the price for NATS’ failure.”

Back in August 2023, a technical problem experienced by NATS saw very significant delays and cancellations across the UK. An outage resulted in hundreds of flights being delayed or canceled. In some cases, passengers waited several days for alternative flights. More than 700,000 passengers suffered cancellations and delays.

An investigation into the incident found that an engineer was unable to correct the fault from home, and so arrived at work more than three hours after the incident began in a bid to fix it.

A single flight from Los Angeles to Paris triggered the failure at 8.30am BST on Monday 28 August, the Civil Aviation Authority previously said. The air traffic control system had been confused by a duplicate code – DVL – which represents both Deauville in France and Devil’s Lake in North Dakota, USA.

Despite the engineer’s best efforts to resolve the problem on site, he was unable to do so. The system was eventually restored at 2.30pm after its manufacturer, Frequentis Comsoft, found the fault.

Following an independent review, Jeff Halliwell, Chair of the Independent Review Panel, said: “The incident on 28 August 2023 represented a major failure on the part of the air traffic control system, which caused considerable distress to over 700,000 aviation passengers, and resulted in substantial costs to airlines and airports. Our report sets out a number of recommendations aimed at improving NATS’ operations and, even more importantly, ways in which the aviation sector as a whole should work together more closely to ensure that, if something like this does ever happen again, passengers are better looked after.”

Rob Bishton, Chief Executive of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, added: “This final report gets to the heart of what went wrong in August 2023 and sets out a number of recommendations that are sector-wide in their scope. It is vital that we learn the lessons from any major incident such as this. I would personally like to thank the Panel for all of their efforts in producing a thorough and wide-ranging report, that will help improve the UK’s aviation system for the future.”